UK: UKIP v. the burka

They should stay in the Muslim world if they want to wear a burka.  The burka is offensive to women.  Women are the most lovely beings on the planet - they do not deserve to be hidden underneath a burka just because some misogynistic desert religion requires it.  I do not want my daughter being exposed to an idea that women are inferior to men and have to be covered up.  Women are our mothers, our daughters, our wives, our sisters - why should any practice that collectively degrades them be tolerated here in the civilized Western world just to appease those who have NO intention of assimilate to our cultures, traditions, and morals and to appease the multiculturalists who will stop at nothing until they rob an entire country completely of its history and national identity?  There should be no special treatment for those who wear burkas.  The practice should be strongly discouraged and reviled by any decent human being.

If the intention of banning it is assimilation, why single out the bhurka?

If the intention of banning it is assimilation, why single out the bhurka?

I never said ban it.  I just don't expect people to welcome it and I agree with that sentiment.

Just because something is being condemned does not mean anyone is singling it out.

Women are our mothers, our daughters, our wives, our sisters - why should any practice that collectively degrades them be tolerated here in the civilized Western world

We seem to be alright with other behavior and dress that collectively degrades women!

I never said ban it.  I just don't expect people to welcome it and I agree with that sentiment.

Just because something is being condemned does not mean anyone is singling it out.

Ok if you're saying not welcome or accept it, again, why single out the bhurka? There are other religons and cultures that require a certain manner of dress that sets them apart from mainstream culture. Should all be condemned?

We seem to be alright with other behavior and dress that collectively degrades women!

Do you mean like the practice of airbrushing women on the cover of magazines and brainwashing young women into starving themselves to achieve a size zero?  Or pornography?  I'm not alright with any of that at all.  I think it's disgusting and I'm not saying we're perfect.

But we haven't always been like that - look at the paintings from the Renaissance period.  Women were painted exactly as they were and they were considered beautiful.  So no.  We haven't always been decadent like that.

If the intention of banning it is assimilation, why single out the bhurka?

Hear hear. Surely the best way for people to assimilate as regards religious belief, is for no-one to wear any religious symbols. That way you won't know just by looking at someone whether they are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu etc etc.  Either you remove ALL religious symobilism or you allow it all. It's not fair to pick on one group.

But we haven't always been like that - look at the paintings from the Renaissance period.  Women were painted exactly as they were and they were considered beautiful.  So no.  We haven't always been decadent like that.

Um, are you familiar with the treatment of women during the Renaissance, Renaissance clothing, or the Renaissance in general, at all?

Hear hear. Surely the best way for people to assimilate as regards religious belief, is for no-one to wear any religious symbols. That way you won't know just by looking at someone whether they are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu etc etc.  Either you remove ALL religious symobilism or you allow it all. It's not fair to pick on one group.

I hear what you're saying but why single out religion? There will be always one characteristic that will set apart the minority from the majority in any culture. The criteria could be never ending.

Um, are you familiar with the treatment of women during the Renaissance, Renaissance clothing, or the Renaissance in general, at all?

I think someone needs to Google Artemesia Gentilleschi and Agostino Tassi for starters.

I hear what you're saying but why single out religion? There will be always one characteristic that will set apart the minority from the majority in any culture. The criteria could be never ending.

If I say what I really think I'm probably going to offend so many people it just isn't worth it.  Let's just say some other characteristics might be a bit more tangible than religion.

I think someone needs to Google Artemesia Gentilleschi and Agostino Tassi for starters.

Is there a smiley somewhere that shakes its head in disbelief?  I mean, you could argue that the objectification of women in visual media had some of its origins in the Early Renaissance!

If I say what I really think I'm probably going to offend so many people it just isn't worth it. 

Oh, go on.  I promise not to be offended. 

They should stay in the Muslim world if they want to wear a burka. 

I take it that you don't celebrate July 4th or Thanksgiving then whilst in the UK? Or wear in public any clothing that acknowledes your American nationality? If so then you should have just stayed in the US!

What about Jews wearing clothing that identifies them? After all, this isn't a Jewish country either. And rosary beads, we aren't a catholic country either.

Is there a smiley somewhere that shakes its head in disbelief?  I mean, you could argue that the objectification of women in visual media had some of its origins in the Early Renaissance!

No! 

Oh, go on.  I promise not to be offended. 

Others might be though, so no, I'm not going to go down this road right now.

Shouldn't we be free to interpret our freedoms differently?  

I agree.

Isn't there something liberating about a woman being able to have a conversation with someone without them first judging her on whether or not she has a pretty face (or how big her boobs are, etc.)?

As a feminist, to me freedom means wearing a g-string and pasties - if I want to - or covering myself from head to toe - if I want to.